Finger bone genome reveals new human ancestor

Posted Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:48 by BIODIR

Finger bone genome reveals new human ancestor -

A previously unknown relative to the Neanderthal who lived in Asia 30,000 to 50,000 years ago and interbred with the ancestors of Papua New Guinea inhabitants has been discovered by an international team.

[COSMOS magazine - Ancient Worlds]

Top 10 worst eruptions of all time

Posted Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:47 by BIODIR

Top 10 worst eruptions of all time -

Scientists have improved capabilities for predicting some volcanic eruptions, but only if they know which mountains to monitor. Long-dormant volcanoes can awaken unexpectedly to wreak havoc. We count down the top 10 worst eruptions.

[COSMOS magazine - Ancient Worlds]

Global eruption rocks Sun

Posted Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:47 by BIODIR

Global eruption rocks Sun -

On August 1, 2010, an entire hemisphere of the Sun erupted, sending shock waves racing across the stellar surface, billion-tonne clouds of hot gas billowing into space. It was so big, it may have shattered old ideas about solar activity.

[COSMOS magazine - Space & Cosmology]

Voyager spacecraft about to exit Solar System

Posted Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:47 by BIODIR

Voyager spacecraft about to exit Solar System -

NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has reached the outer edge of the Solar System where wind from the Sun is no longer blowing outward, but sideways.

[COSMOS magazine - Space & Cosmology]

Ten biodiversity hotspots

Posted Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:46 by BIODIR

Ten biodiversity hotspots -

In 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, we look at the world's most species-rich pockets.

[COSMOS magazine - Life & Environment]

Climate mechanics

Posted Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:46 by BIODIR

Climate mechanics -

Today, engineers are capable of radical, large-scale climate manipulation. Erika Engelhaupt investigates the global management strategies they are designing to control temperature spikes on Earth.

[COSMOS magazine - Features]

Bright Prospects for Comet Elenin?

Posted Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:45 by BIODIR

It doesn't look like much now — just a tiny, 19th-magnitude smudge tucked away in southwestern Virgo — but a newly discovered comet could become something special 10 months from now.

Successful hunt for asteroids in the classroom

Posted Fri, 12/31/2010 - 23:39 by BIODIR
For the past few months, the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope, designed to become the world’s most powerful asteroid hunter, teamed up with school children from the USA and Germany to discover and study asteroids – clumps of rock, between a few and a few hundred kilometers in size, that cruise through our Solar System.

Aspirin sharply reduces cancer risk

Posted Sun, 12/26/2010 - 01:11 by BIODIR

Aspirin sharply reduces cancer risk -

A small, daily dose of aspirin significantly diminishes the risk of death from a wide range of cancers, according to a landmark study.

[COSMOS magazine - Ancient Worlds]

Hybrids spell doom for Arctic species

Posted Sun, 12/26/2010 - 01:11 by BIODIR

Hybrids spell doom for Arctic species -

Climate change is pushing Arctic mammals to mate with cousin species, in a trend that could be pushing the polar bear and other iconic animals towards extinction unless their offspring is culled, biologists said.

[COSMOS magazine - Life & Environment]

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